Hola collegiettes™!
Have you ever heard of El Tigre? Yes that means “The Tiger,” and no, I am not referring to Tony the Tiger or the tigers you can see at the zoo. This past weekend I visited a province of Argentina called El Tigre and it was one of my favorite trips yet! This beautiful town is situated on an island created by several small streams and rivers. It was founded in 1820, after floods had destroyed other settlements in the area. The area’s name derives from the “tigres” that were hunted there in its early years.
We started off our tour of El Tigre by visiting El Museo de Mate (Mate Museum). And no, this wasn’t a museum about mating. Mate is pronounced “mah-tay” and is a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused drink that is served hot. It is typically used in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Southern Brazil and Chile. It is prepared with yerba mate-green, finely chopped leaves that infuse the tea water with an earthy and slightly bitter flavor, similar to that of green tea. The friendly Argentine museum guides educated us about the different types of mate, how to drink it and the etiquette of this social beverage. We even got to taste it!
It is served in a round, uncovered gourd that is made from a calabaza (squash) and often has a metal rim. You can also buy mates that are made from glass or metal, but I’ve been told by many locals that they prefer the taste of the gourd. The yerba mate is packed around the metal bombilla (straw), which has a base that functions as a filter. Once the straw is dug into the herbs, you pour hot water around the area where the straw has stuck the herb. You may add sugar to herbs or add honey to the hot water to sweeten it up! One helping of packed yerba will allow for about 10 drinks, so it is crucial that you have a thermos or hot pot of water nearby to refill after each time the water is sucked dry.
Enjoying a nice cup of mate at a friend’s house!
The different types of bombillas (straws)
Mate is drank by almost everyone here; children, teeneragers, adults and the elderly. They drink it any time, anywhere – literally. While working (whether behind a desk or in the outdoors), studying, driving, sitting with friends on a sidewalk or in a house or while enjoying the outdoors near a park or lake. Despite its popularity, it is not sold in restaurants. It is more for a drink in the morning or to accompany a meal. Many people use it as an excuse to socialize and enjoy passing around the mate while discussing their day. When drinking mate with a group of people, one person is the server (it traditionally was the youngest in the family, but is now usually the person who owns the gourd) and also prepares the mate. This person fills it for each person. Each participant drinks the full serving before passing it back to the server. Some Americans may be skeeved out by this, but yes, they use the same gourd and straw. Also, if you say “gracias” it means that you are done drinking.
Group of friends enjoying nature with a cup of mate, they have their thermos of hot water nearby to refill!
Mate is a for everyone, even children!
Yerba Mate usually replaces coffee as well. Instead of waking up and having a cup of coffee, they will prepare their mate. Since I started drinking it here, I haven’t had a single cup of coffee (unbelievable). Yerba Mate is full of caffeine, antioxidants and also vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B Complex. It has the minerals Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Zinc as well. This drink also serves as a hunger suppressant, aids in digestion and supports your cardiovascular system!
Of course, I have already bought a ton of mates to bring home to the States! I can just imagine all the nights I’m going to spend sitting on my balcony overlooking the pool, sipping on some mate with my roommate. It is one of the most relaxing ways to past the time and I cannot wait to share with my friends!
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